Timer.



D. W. HABE.

TIMER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1e, 1909.

961,407. v Patented June 14, 1910.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

DONALD'W. HAR/E, 0F LOS ANGELES,. CALIFORNIA.

TIMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Application led January 18, 1909. Serial No. 473,015.

circuit of an explosive engine to produce theY spark at the proper time.

In timers which have heretofore been produced the terminals to which the wires were connected were mounted on a movable part of the timer which was adjustable to vary the time of operation of the device and whenever it was adjusted the wires leading therefrom were bent, and in consequence one of the most frequent sources of annoyance with timers thus constructed was the loosening Vor breaking of the wires at the terminals; and one object; of the present inments of vention is to avoid this vby so constructing the timer that the wires are connected to a stationary part of the device. i

Ordinary timers, as heretofore constructed, were mounted on and supported by the shaft which rotated the revolvingA parts of the timer, and the stationary parts of the timer were held against rotation by being connected with some stationary part of the engine or structure adjacent thereto, with the result that the rotation of the shaft imparted considerable vibration to the timer and generally caused the timer as a whole to partake of more or less of a wabbling movement which also weakened the attachment of the wires and rendered the operation of the timer uncertain.

Another very important object of the present invention is to obviate this diiiculty by rigidly supporting the non-rotating elethe timer independently of the rotating shaft which operates the timer.

Further objects are to produce a timer which is very simple in construction, effective in operation and durable in use.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the timer. Fig. 2 is a section on line m2-m2 FigQl. -Fig. 3 is a section on line :v3-w3 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a timer as constructed for a four cylinder engine. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stationary ring to illustrate the manner in which the segments are overlapped and staggered.

The timer comprises a disk 1 having a foot 2 forming means for attaching the same to the engine or to the dash board of an automobile, or any other stationary structure adjacent the engine. Disk 1 is formed with a journal bearing 3 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 4, the latter having a retaining sleeve 5 secured to it by a taper pin 4 6. The inner end of the shaft 4 has mounted t-hereon a crank 7 the end of the shaft 4 being expanded to tightly fit the crank 7 by means of a taper screw 8 which enters a correspondingly threaded, tapered orifice in the end of the shaft 4, the end of the shaft 4 being slit as at 9 so that when the screw 8 is screwed in tight the shaft will be expanded and tightly grip the smooth bore of the crank 7. This method of fastening, while economical of construction, enables the parts to be easily assembled and also readily permits of adjusting the crank on the shaft 4 to any 'angular position desired, which is quite advantageous as the shaft 4 is geared with the engine and it is inexpedient to adjust the angular position of shaft 4 with respect to the piston movement, it being much easier to adjust the crank 7 with respect to I the shaft 4, as afforded in my construction.

Pivoted in the end of the crank 7 is an arm 10 to which is secured a flat spring 11, and the spring 11 vbears against the hub of the crank 7 and yieldingly holds the arm 10 outwardly. Secured to theadjusting ring 12 is a cap plate 14 having an arm 15 through the medium of which the adjusting ring may be turned within the casing ring 3.

The adjusting ring 12 is provided, if the timer is for a two cylinder engine, with two contact blocks 16, the inner face of each being curved flush with the inner face of the adjusting ring, and each contact block being hollow and having therein a contact ball 17 behind which is a coil compression spring 18 which presses the ball outward against a segment 19 in the casing ring 13, and thus a continuous contact is maintained which is The'.

over the contact blocks 16, and thus as the shaft 4C makes each complete revolution the roller 20 will successively make contact with both contact blocks 16 and thus close the circuit therethrough. The casing ring 13 and the adjusting ring 12 are constructed of an insulating material, preferably hard ber, so that while the roller 2O is operating against the adjusting ring 12 the circuit is broken, the circuit being established only when the roller 20 is in contact with either of the contact blocks 16. A post 21 extends from each segment 19 through the casing ring 13 and is provided with a terminal 22 for the attachment of the wires. rllhe other pole of the circuit is grounded through the roller 20, arm 10, crank 7, shaft e and enune.

g rlhe casing ring 13 is secured by screws 23 to the disk 1. The diameter or the cap 14; is slightly less than the outerdiameter of the adjusting ring 12, and to cover the crack between the adjusting ring 12 and casing ring 13 is a thin dat ring 2Liwhich is secured by the same screws 23.

tlf here the timer is used for a tour cylinder engine, tour segments 19 are employed. Fig. 5 shows how the segments 19 overlap each other and are staggered so that they are insulated :from each other. By overlapping them in this manner 17 am enabled to still retain the full range of adjustability ot the adjusting ring '12. rlhe respective contact blocks 16 are arranged so that their respective balls 17 have contact with the segments associated therewith. V/'hile the contact blocks 16 may thus not all be in the same plane, they are all nevertheless within the path of movement of the contact rollers 20.

:in the operation of the device the roller 2O makes contact with the contact blocks 16 in successi-ve order, thereby making the circuit and producing the sparks. 'llhe time of the spark is regulated by causing the roller 2O to contact with the blocks 13 relatively with respect to the movement ot the piston. lThis is efectuated by adjusting the adjusting ring 12. For example, if it is desired to advance the spark, the adjusting ring 12 will be adjusted in a direction opposite to the arrow Fig. 3, and the roller 20 will thus contact with the respective blocks 16 earlier in the stroke. It it is desired t`o retard the spark, the adjusting ring 12 will be adjusted in the 'directiono the arrow Fig. 3 accordingly. Any intermediate timing of the spark may obviously be ohtained by adjusting the ring 12 to the desired point.

What I claim is:-

@einer 1. ln a timer, a stationary casing, terminals thereon, four segments in the casin connected with the respective terminals, sai segments being staggered and 'each embracing more than a quarter circle, an adjusting ring revoluble in the casing, contact blocks in the adjusting ring having contact with the respective segments, a shaft, and means carried by' the shaft for making contact with the respective blocks as the shaft rotates.

2. In a timer, a stationary casing, terminals thereon, tour segments in the casing, said segments being staggered and each embracing more than a quarter circle, an adjusting ring revoluble in the casing, contact blocks in the adjusting ring, a ball in each contactblocka spring in each contact block pressing the ball against the associated segment, a shaft, and means carried by the shaft for successively contacting with the contact blocks as the shaft rotates.4

3. lin a timer, stationary casing, terminals thereon, four segments thereon connected to the respective terminals, said segments being staggered and each embracing more than a quarter circle, an adjusting ring revoluble in the casing, contact blocks lin the adjusting ring, a shaft, a crank on the shaft, an arm pivoted to the crank, a contact roller on the arm, and a spring for pressing said arm outwardly to cause the roller to make Contact with the respective contact blocks as' the shaft rotates.

1. In a timer, a stationary casing comprising a disk having a foot, a shart journaled in said disk, a casing ring secured to said disk, posts disposed radially in said casing ring, terminals :on the outer ends of said posts, curved segments inlaid in the casing rin@ and connected with the respective. posts, an adjusting ring revolubly mounted within the casing ring, a cap on the adjusting ring, an adjusting arm eX- `tending from the cap, hollow contact blocks in the adjusting ring, a spring pressed ball in each contact block making contact with the associated segment, a crank on the end of said shaft, an arm on said crank, a roller on said arm for making contact with the inner faces of the respective contact blocks, and a spring for pressing said arm outwardly.

-ln testimony whereof, li have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 13th day or7 l'anuary 1909.

DONALD W. HABE.

FRANK la. A.. GRAHAM. 

